FANR Strategy 2027 2029 Reviewed With Regulatory Developments

The Board of Management of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation held its first meeting of 2026, where members reviewed long-term regulatory plans, approved new strategies, and examined progress across nuclear and radiation oversight programmes, including updates on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, research activities, the Radiation Protection Committee, and initiatives to streamline services for licence holders.

During the session, the Board of Management endorsed FANR’s 2027–2029 strategy, which outlined how the authority intended to reinforce the UAE’s nuclear and radiation regulatory framework, align its work with national priorities, and maintain readiness for developing technologies and changing risk profiles across the sector.

The multi‑year strategy was structured around three main pillars: Nuclear Governance and Regulatory Leadership; Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Security and Safeguards; and Preparedness and Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies. These pillars were supported by cross‑cutting enablers focused on capacity building and innovation to maintain strong oversight capabilities in the UAE.

Implementation of the strategy concentrated on improving regulatory effectiveness, strengthening safety and security for all licensed activities, expanding research, and growing Emirati expertise. It also targeted stronger collaboration with national and international stakeholders, while ensuring the regulatory system stayed ready to manage emerging technologies and evolving risks in nuclear and radiation uses.

The Board of Management also reviewed FANR’s 2026 Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, which supported the UAE Government’s wider ZGB approach. The programme aimed to redesign 12 essential services provided to licensees, simplifying processes and reducing administrative steps, while maintaining regulatory rigour and compliance expectations for nuclear and radiation activities.

The update showed progress in Cycle Three of the Programme, noting that five services had been redesigned during 2025. FANR reported that these changes produced major service improvements, including more than a 50 percent reduction in transaction turnaround times. These efforts supported the national agenda to provide high‑quality government services and embed ongoing improvement.

FANR nuclear regulatory framework and Barakah plant oversight

Board members received a detailed status report on the four units of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, covering operational performance, refuelling schedules, and maintenance timelines planned for each unit. FANR continued to carry out regular inspections at the site to check compliance with regulatory requirements and to confirm that plant operations remained safe and secure.

FANR nuclear regulatory framework and research priorities

The Board approved FANR’s Regulatory Research Programme for 2026 and 2027, designed to support ongoing improvements to the regulatory framework through targeted studies. The programme addressed priority topics such as nuclear safety, radiation protection, environmental assessments, severe accident analysis, and emerging technologies, and was implemented with national and international partners.

The research portfolio included the following focus areas:

The update to the Board highlighted strong Emirati participation in research projects and an increasing focus on turning research findings into practical regulatory tools. This approach aimed to support evidence‑based decisions and maintain long‑term regulatory readiness across nuclear facilities and radiation practices in the UAE.

Members were also briefed on the work of the Radiation Protection Committee during 2025, which recorded notable progress in strengthening the national radiation protection framework. Achievements included approving National Diagnostic Reference Levels guidelines, establishing referral and qualification frameworks, launching initiatives to manage orphan radioactive sources, and improving coordination on environmental and dosimetry monitoring programmes.

The Radiation Protection Committee further broadened national preparedness for radiological emergencies and contributed to capacity building through workshops and accredited training programmes. Together with the new FANR strategy, research agenda, Barakah oversight activities, and Zero Government Bureaucracy measures, these actions supported a comprehensive approach to nuclear and radiation regulation in the UAE.

With inputs from WAM